You can split this weekend of events around Dallas into distinct categories. Thursday, naturally, will be day for Halloween-themed events, with some continuing the next few days. Friday is a day for fine arts like opera, dance, and theater. And Saturday and Sunday brings music for the masses, including two festivals and a Hamilton star.
Below are the best ways to spend your free time this weekend. Want more options? Lucky for you, we have a much longer list of the city's best events.
Thursday, October 31
Alamo Drafthouse presents Alaween Halloween Carnival
There will be plenty of different and fun Halloween celebrations on Thursday night, but you can get the festivities started early at Alamo Drafthouse Richardson. The Alaween Halloween Carnival will feature face painting, bounce houses, carnival games, trick-or-treating throughout the theater for the little ones, and spooky specials for parents in the Glass Half Full and Vetted Well.
The Chainsmokers in concert with 5 Seconds of Summer and Lennon Stella
There's no more 21st century musical phenomenon than DJs who get famous by creating music for other people to sing. The Chainsmokers have had five top 10 hits in their career thanks to collaborations with Daya, Halsey, and Coldplay. They've collaborated with tourmates 5 Seconds of Summer on "Who Do You Love," off their forthcoming album, World War Joy. They'll perform at American Airlines Center.
Dallas Symphony Orchestra presents The Nightmare Before Christmas
Holidays collide in The Nightmare Before Christmas, the stop-motion favorite from director Tim Burton. Sarah Hicks conducts the Dallas Symphony Orchestra as they celebrate the spookiest weekend of the year by performing Danny Elfman's score live to picture. Costumes are encouraged at the concert, which will have four performances through Sunday at Meyerson Symphony Center.
Imprint Theatreworks presents Lizzie
Lizzie Borden took an axe, gave her mother 40 whacks. When she saw what she had done, gave her father 41. This is the nursery rhyme that described the unspeakable crime that took the nation by storm when Lizzie Borden murdered her parents with an axe in 1892. Or did she? Lizzie is a musical that reimagines that bloody legend with four women fronting a rock band and set to a blistering score with rage, sex, betrayal, and bloody, bloody murder. The production, making its regional premiere, will play at Bath House Cultural Center through November 16.
Friday, November 1
The Dallas Opera presents The Magic Flute simulcast
The Dallas Opera will present a free live simulcast of Mozart’s The Magic Flute at Klyde Warren Park. Hosted by Amy Bishop of WRR, "Classical 101" and Kristian Roberts, Education Administrator for The Dallas Opera, activities will include a trivia contest, behind-the-scenes interviews with the cast, and the high-definition screening of a 1950 classic cartoon, Rabbit of Seville. It all takes place prior to the performance of the classic opera, on stage live just down the street at Winspear Opera House.
Dallas Black Dance Theatre presents Director's Choice
Director's Choice showcases the best in the future of dance. Dallas Black Dance Theatre has selected Nijawwon Matthews, teacher/choreographer for both The Joffrey Ballet School and Broadway Dance Center, to create a new work on perseverance that will provide the audience with a raw, yet elegant, transformative experience. There will be three performances through Sunday at Wyly Theatre.
Mainstage Irving-Las Colinas presents A Chorus Line
A Chorus Line examines one day in the lives of 17 dancers, all vying for a spot in the “chorus line” of a Broadway musical. Discomfort opens into revelation, confession leads to redemption, and within the bright, outwardly homogeneous chorus, the audience begins to see each dancer’s individuality. Mainstage Irving-Las Colinas' production of the classic musical will play at Irving Arts Center through November 9.
Dallas Summer Musicals presents An Evening with the Best of Broadway
A trio of award-winning women — Kelli O’Hara, Amber Riley, and Chita Rivera — will be on hand for Dallas Summer Musicals' An Evening with the Best of Broadway. O'Hara and Riley will perform, while Rivera will serve as host for the evening. There will also be a number of surprise special guests, including Adam Pascal, at the fundraising event at the Music Hall at Fair Park, with proceeds benefiting the non-profit Dallas Summer Musicals.
Bishop Arts Theatre Center presents A Dress for Lonely Death
Bishop Arts Theatre Center celebrates Day of the Dead with Teatro Flor Candela’s A Dress For Lonely Death. No one dies alone. When you pass on, the first thing you see as you begin your journey to a new life is an intense light that spreads from the dress of Death. As you contemplate the brilliant embroidery of the fine stitching of the garment, your eyes recognize the infinite stars sewn into the dress. The production will have three performances through Saturday.
Saturday, November 2
City of Carrollton presents Festival at the Switchyard
Tripping Daisy and Old 97’s will be the headlining entertainment for the 10th annual Festival at the Switchyard. Both Dallas-based bands will serve as a throwback to the inaugural festival in 2010 when Old 97’s and The Polyphonic Spree, which features Tripping Daisy lead singer Tim DeLaughter and other bandmates, headlined the show. In addition to free concerts, the festival features live children’s entertainment, rides and games, face painting and balloon art, a beer garden, and an array of food vendors and festival booths.
Post Malone presents Posty Fest
Posty Fest is an all-day music extravaganza curated and headlined by Post Malone, featuring performances by Meek Mill, Pharrell Williams, Rae Sremmurd, Jaden Smith, Dominic Fike, Doja Cat, Yella Beezy, Tyla Yaweh, Saint Jhn, Iann Dior, Beach Fossils, Snowy, Maj and Kerwin Frost, as well as special surprise guests. Taking place at AT&T Stadium, the festival will include games, food, prizes, limited merch, exclusive collabs, jousting, and more.
Eisemann Center presents An Evening with Renee Elise Goldsberry
Renée Elise Goldsberry received the Tony Award, Grammy Award, Drama Desk Award, and Lucille Lortel Award for her performance off and on Broadway as Angelica Schuyler in the musical phenomenon Hamilton. Since winning the Tony Award, she has appeared in Baz Luhrmann’s The GetDown for Netflix, in the title role for HBO’s The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks, and on the Netflix show Altered Carbon. She'll talk and sing at Eisemann Center for the Performing Arts in Richardson.
Sunday, November 3
Ray LaMontagne in concert
Singer/songwriter Ray LaMontagne has been a favorite of folk rock fans for many years, dating back to his debut album, Trouble, in 2004. Since then, he has released six more albums, including the acclaimed God Willin' and the Creek Don't Rise in 2010 and his latest, 2018's Part of the Light. He'll play at the Music Hall at Fair Park.
MainStage Irving-Las Colinas presents A Chorus Line, playing November 1-9 at Irving Arts Center.
Figure skater Mariah Bell. Getty Images 